HARBOR ADMINISTRATION AND HARBOR LOANS.

Evening Star, Issue 4154, 20 June 1876, Page 3

HARBOR ADMINISTRATION AND HARBOR LOANS.

The following extract from a letter from the Hon. Dr Pollen to the Superintendent of Canterbury (signifying the approval of the General Government of the Provincial' Estimates for the six months ending September 30th) fully explains the views of the General Government on harbor management :

" I have to point out to your Honor that you are best able to judge of the reliance you can place on the successful negotiation of the harbor loan, and that until you are satisfied in that respect you should take care to considerably contract your liabilities. As you have placed the proceeds of the loan as a general item of revenue, the Government conclude that so much of it as is not included in the proposed expenditure for the special purposes to which it has to be devoted, is repayable to the Province for expenditure on the same objects already incurred, otherwise it would not be right to place the whole amount down as available revenue. Whilst on thiß subject I have, to suggest to your Honor that it would be very desirable that the Provincial Government should arrange the terms and conditions of a Harbor Trust and Board for the Lyrtleton harbor, to be embodied in a Bill for the consideration of Parliament. It would in every way be expedient on the Abolition of the Provinces that the charge of harbor improvements should be placed under properly constituted local management. The Government see no objection to the proposed payment to Timaru. In this case, also, there should be a Harbor Trust and Board. Upon such a Board would rest the onus of obtaining the necessary means in excess of the one hundred thousand pounds, and it is to be presumed Parliament would give to it powers of raising money similar to those other Boards possess. In this, as in other cases, the Government would oppose anything in the shape of Colonial liability, whilst they would stipulate for the same power of approving the proposed works as has belen provided in other measures of a similar character."